Koi Fusion PDX

INTRODUCING…

If you’re hoping to sample one of Portland’s most recent culinary experiments, you’ll need a Twitter account. The social networking phenomenon that brings us up-to-the-minute feeds from David Beckham, Ashton Kutcher, and even outer space will now tell you the whereabouts of Koi Fusion, a four-month-old mobile food cart that serves tacos with a Korean twist.

Inspired by Kogi, Los Angeles’s “tweeting” Korean taco truck, Koi Fusion owner Bo Kwon and his roving team capitalize on Portland’s lively street scene by taking their hybrid delicacies wherever the action is—whether it’s Last Thursday on NE Alberta Street, downtown after-hours, or Portland State University during the lunchtime crunch—tweeting their whereabouts as they go.

Roughly 2,000 Portlanders are logging on to find Koi thanks to its indulgent fusion specialties, such as spicy kimchi quesadillas or Kwon’s version of a good ol’ American classic—Seoul Sliders—made with your choice of spicy pork, beef, chicken, tofu, or boneless short ribs doused with spicy mayonnaise, American cheese, and tangy slaw.

But Koi’s standout dish is the Korean short-rib taco—succulent barbecued ribs served in a corn tortilla and topped with cilantro, cucumber, and Mama Kwon’s intensely sweet teriyaki marinade. Try one and you’ll become an instant convert, but get ready to wait—you’ll be among a growing number of hungry Portlanders willing to follow the nomadic Kwon to all corners of the city. Just make sure you have Internet access.